Prostate cancer is a common illness among men around the world. The condition affects the prostate gland, which is a small gland in the reproductive system of men. Its function is to nourish the semen as the man releases it from the urethra.
Suppose you are experiencing particular symptoms. And you are wondering whether you
have prostate cancer or not. Definitely, it can be a cause of alarm to anyone. However, what signs should you be looking for? Read further to get more insights into the signs of prostate cancer.
Understanding what prostate cancer is first
Before you start becoming anxious, it would be best to understand what prostate cancer is. Generally, cancer affects the prostate gland. The cells within the gland begin to mutate, which causes unusual growth within it. Medical experts classify prostate cancer into four types. The first type is adenocarcinomas, which is the most common type of cancer.
Other types include small cell carcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors, sarcomas, transitional cell carcinomas.
Early signs of prostate cancer
The prostate gland lies below the urethra, the tube responsible for transporting semen and urine. During the early stages of prostate cancer, symptoms are rare. In fact, the disease may lie silently in your body without the patient’s knowledge.
Fortunately, if the prostate gland is not aggressive, it can heal by itself; otherwise, if it’s aggressive, you notice several signs.
Signs of aggressive prostate cancer
If not treated quickly, a tumor will form and cause your prostate to increase in size. Sometimes, the cancerous cells might also spread to other parts of your body.
Some of the signs you might start to notice include:
- Blood present in the urine or semen
- You will have difficulty urinating
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Difficulty peeing when standing
- Painful urination and ejaculation
- Not being able to empty your bladder
- Experiencing pain in your rectum
- Pee might leak out when laughing or coughing
- Erectile dysfunction
- If the prostate cancer gets to a more advanced level, you will:
- Lose weight uncontrollably
- Lose appetite
- Feel nausea and fatigue
- Your lower limbs will swell
- Bowel problems such as constipation
- Stiffness and pain in your pelvis, ribs, lower back, upper thighs, bones
- Fever and chills
- Have sexual struggles
What to do once you see these signs
Typically, these signs and symptoms are caused by other reasons as well. Therefore, it’s always good to consult a doctor as soon as possible. They will conduct various tests on you and recommend the correct type of treatment for you.
Conclusion
Many patients die out of prostate cancer, especially if they don’t detect the problem early. Therefore, you should go for frequent screenings as often as possible. Treating the illness becomes easier since doctors will detect the cause and whether it’s advanced or not.
